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Joep , thank you for explanation . Certainly , it is not Sanparks "fault " if the accommodation is no longer available , but the same can be said from the tourist's point of view .

In this instance , we still have almost 6 weeks to go before our visit , and we are changing our reservation to suit . Unfortunately , we will not necessarily enjoy the same " ambience " as at Balule , and also we have to pay the higher price elsewhere , but hey , what can you do ?

Exactly the point I tried to make above. In many instances, the lesser financial loss is to simply pay the extra for the accommodation. SANParks has their customers over the proverbial barrel. Many simply cannot afford to absorb the external losses (for want of a better term) a cancellation would bring with them, so they fork out the extra money.

It just feels like very little was sacrificed on the part of SANParks to accommodate those visitors affected by the floods. It feels like the visitors are expected to carry any additional expenses.

If SANParks even said "Ok, your booked accommodation was R500 a night, and we're offering you accommodation at R800 per night, so let's split the difference and call it R650 a night", well, that at least shows some consideration towards the visitors. But that isn't the stance that was taken, is it?

Thank you for your reply Joep, and for explaining SANParks' stance on the matter.

@ all, SANParks have answered, the original poster has seen the reply.

This topic will now be locked.

Zorilla, we have been in the park this past weekend, and can confirm that the same roads are still closed

Hi All, Thanks to all who posted pictures of the floods - they were awesome. Next time I'm in the loo at Tshokwane I'll be thinking of the water over my head. One thought - what happened to all the hippos and crocs in the rivers - did they move on to the land. bondm

I have a number of photos of the flood that I have not yet posted. I am not sure if this would be old 'news' to any of you or if you would like me to post some of them. The photos are of the Nwaswisontso and Olifants river that were in flood. Also I have a few of the Timbavati river in flood.
BondM the hippos and crocs would have moved to higher ground. They would not have stayed in a flooding river. There were a number of 'veld' pools and lakes also caused by the heavy rain that these creatures could have moved into. Within a couple of days as the rivers subsided the I witnessed the return of hippos and crocs.

Hi adw - would love to see all your pics of the flooding

I agree with Safari Gal adw! Please post them all.

Okay, here goes. I will be posting the photos in chronological order.
I was staying at Satara which was fortunate in that the camp is not alongside a major river. The day before the floods it was raining steadily. Nothing dramatic but steady and continious. The afternoon of the 17/1/2012 I drove on the S90. The following photo shows the heavy rain clouds and I estimated the Timbavati area was the recipient of this heavy rain cloud. The time was 14h43.


The morning of the 18/1. It had rained throughout the night. As I left camp I noticed the S100 was closed and so was the S126. The Sweni river was flowing very strongly but as it was still dark I did not take a photo. On I drove and found the S126 closed as well, but I could tell from the S126 that the area was flooded as Kumana Dam had stretched right up to the corner near the S126. Kumana Dam was over a km long.
This photo shows the dam at the corner near the S125. The time was 05h44 and I was the second tourist vehicle to get to Kumana Dam.


This is Kumana Dam where one normally stops to view the dam and waterbirds.


Just past KD there were a number of tempory dams.


The Nwaswisontso river was in flood.


Another makeshift or tempory dam.


The S86, that short 4km route was also effectively closed by the flood waters.


The Nwaswisontso River had burst its banks in various places.


Mazithi dam was also flooded. The time was now 06h12


Just past Mazithi dam the H1-3 came to a sudden end as it became part of the Nwaswisontso river!!


Time to do a U-turn and head back to camp. More to follow...............

This is where

yes please from me too adw!

Sorry, my post was a bit late! Amazing pics adw, many thanks for posting.

Thanks adw, looking forward to whatever else you have to share with us ...

WoW adw - Your pictures are incredible and only seeing the remains of the flood with my own eyes still visible with lot of debris in the open grassland savannah in that area shows the immense power of water

Thanks adw. It must have been nerve wrecking to drive around under those circumstances, not knowing what you will find around the next corner.